The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-07-01

the boat was his. The boatbuilder, how
ever, made rs promise faithfully not /,
alter her IN the least particular. not ever
10 touch her with Tar brush. until VI,
we're AZ kralhoim. ..For.~ said he -
have boosted greatly Of this boat, and
do not wish 70 be shamed before thu
whole town by having you begin to alter
her rig the moment you own her
We gave the promise readily. and the
builder talked 80 much while she was be.
ing launched tina, neither Of us noticed
that no cross sas tarred on her stern.
Ny wife viii have it that the boat
builder MIS- in league with the norman.
no had doubtless taught him how 10
build - well below the water line that
be- might lure US into sailing thus unpro-
teciea by the holy sign. which all fiends
fear, and which would have saved Us
from hiz vengeance. She mar be right I;
such things have been. and that man !
have heard ended miserably.
Essiy in the afternoon we all sailed for
home We had about eight miles to 20.
and soon found that the sea-poine
qualities Of or new purchase were likely
10 be thoroughly tested. 1t blew very
hard and the waves ran high. She
behaved splendidly. skimming over the
hilloEs like a waterfowl. Shipping
scarcely q spray. We were delighted
with her
suddenly Karen gave a CRY Of alarm,
and pointed over the stern. We looked
sna saE . grez; back cloud. which
! s--'-f----i - r-~e- rifr wf-7c-f1orfxoff roii-
ins down upon Us with streak Of boiling
white foam before it. sprang to reef
the sail, and in an instant the squalI was
uponus. At once all was dark as night.
We could not SIC each others faces
Tie wind hOwled. and as the boat bent
10 il, rushing on her course, it seemed
that she must capsize. The children
screamed with fright. Then at a short
distance TO ~indwari the blackness
opened, as If q curtain had been drawn
ny. and IN a brsad space Of living green
III light We saw another ;en-oared boat.
she stood out black and distinct against
the half-circle Of light which seemed TO
tra'el with her. She was an exact copy
u our own boat: she was sailing the same
course. but, while we heeled terribly to
the wind and plunged madlv TO the
fzeing SEA. she with full sail set, glided
along on an even keel, as steady as
though the sea were a mill-pond. The
wind and sea seemed to have no effect
o. her.
could but see one aboard her. a dark
tgure az the helm. She frightened me.
But ] could not think of her long, for
the wind was now a hurricane, and
every wave dashed over her bows, half
nlling the boat with water. heard
Elias shout; Look OUT Hold fast. all
II your and raw an enormous wave as
high as our mast it seemed. topplinn
over us. Tons Of water dashed down
npon as. sad thought we were sinking:
bui ouf boat quickly righfed and seemed
- shake the water from her. | looked
nrst for Elias. / could Just make out his
dglfe al the helm. Then heard half
sfided shrek. 90. Elias. husband
Martha and Mis- Save themin II was
kareH's voice The fwGlittle ones were
gone. heard Elias groar. We could
DO nothing. Then looked for the other
bcaf. The greenish light was brighter.
the ffraDee cszff more distinct. Two
had been added 10 her crew. They stood
mqtiuuless By Der mast: their faces were
me faces Of the dead. the faces
- the drowned children. Il was a
fearful sight. bot before we could speak 1
1ord smother mountain OF water was
hu-ied upon u, and when il had passed /
karen was gone. and Antons life line .
daasicd loose and empty. l could hear
49, y. J ~. while the four older BOYS 1
ciang sif5so~sea soshs s.s<.>-s neltRsF
moved nor spoke.
We heard loud laugh, and deep I
Eoioe called. ''Ha, hai Eliss, Will have
, fell crew son. There was the strange |
boat scarce City feet from Us. In her
Here Karen and Anton, Nils and Martha.
dead and white, and there. huge. naked 4
end terrible, stood the steersman, with I
sca- ercea hair and beard blowing wildly 4
about bis frightfal head.
With menacing gesture he pointed to
The spike Of a fish spear sticking between
his shoulders. / nearly tainted. Elias
ceased praying BY the ghasfly light 4
DOW 20 near as could see his face. 1t
Wa that q a Wild beast at bay, despair
Ing but feroci0us.
Dawing his long knife, be muttered.
- know you. know youi II a spear
ran pierce your back, this may reach
,nur hearf
'.Eiiasi- / shrieked, 'that was on
.znd- Whist would you DOR
End this. one way or other he
shoated. TO the sheet. fool.'' and he
plf up the helm. / trimmed the sail
eiose. - ty instinct, and we few to run
down our pursiier. was now desperate.
iol, aud gasping the boafhook, stood
ready 10 strike.
Just a. ne seemed aboard Of the ncr-
man another save swept over US; felt
our boat sink from under me. Even
through the rush Of the water heard
Mid shrieks and shouts Of hendish
laughter. end knew no more until I
found myself clinging with a death grip
b. fae unsuhmerged rail Of our wrecked
.eat, whose heavy mast and spread sail
llone prevented her from capsizing com
pieieiy.
Tho black cloud was gone, the mer-
MAJ was gone, the four boys were gone.
uii ] saw Eliss caught between the boom
md the fapsscniift. II was showing;
lie wind and the sea were az fierce a.
ltHf NAA II Va no iourrf ~ uafh-
MANAGED 10 reach Elias and drag him up
scside me- hslding him with me arm,
Ahiie Nifh tie Other chung TO the rail,
esfing my feef on the combing OF the
laich- thought him dead, but soon be
uosed and sighed.
Courage. = Il said: 44the norman is
,nue. fo1 will live
Sc. Bc-ut. he answered. weakly.
God Is too good 70 let tho fiend carry
- revenge - far as that; am dying;
ron viii b. saved. You are not Of nv
.iead. shall soon be with Karen and
o. ckiidreu.7
10 vas silent for awhile. Then he
shisprrrd, brosHnly. ''Bernt. remeln-
ler-ali four you and Elsa-all.n
] held him a. strongly a. could. Sud
ieuiF look Of joy III up his white face
stretching oui bis aims. he cried: "Yes,
karen. I am coming He wrenehed
Iisn=ef free from my weakened hold.
nd fell backward into the sea
supposei tainted then. for when
We AGAIN conscious. tao days after. /
las n my bed Al krzlhoim. with Elsa
irnding over me. She had found me on
haf f.lz. evening, lying drowned, as she
hen fheughf. On the beach. whittier she